Russia Completely Bans Google's YouTube, Blocking Both Website and Mobile App Access

Earlier, Google's video platform YouTube experienced slow access speeds or was completely inaccessible in Russia, with some regions still being able to access the site albeit with significantly reduced loading speeds, leading to video playback issues or failure to load altogether.

However, Russian users no longer need to worry about slow access speeds, as the site is now entirely inaccessible, with both the YouTube website and mobile app experiencing connection timeouts and failing to load any content.

Following the initial access issues, member of the Russian Duma stated that the problem was not on Russia's end but was due to Google ceasing to service its operations in Russia, leading to insufficient video loading speeds due to a lack of investment in its Russian operations post-sanctions.

Google, however, disputed this claim. A YouTube spokesperson, when asked by the media, stated that the inaccessibility was not due to any technological restrictions imposed by YouTube, although no further details were provided.

The complete inability to connect now raises questions – has there been a total failure of the servers Google provides to Russian users? Google expressed confusion over the issue, indicating that it was not something within their power to resolve.

There were also rumors that Russia might eventually ban Google Search, the Android system, and even the iOS system. These speculations came from the same Duma member who advised users, especially entrepreneurs, to prepare in advance to avoid potential business disruptions if such bans were implemented.

On the other hand, another Russian legislator argued that restricting YouTube was necessary since Google had withdrawn from Russia and was not complying with Russian demands to remove certain content, thus not adhering to Russian laws and deserving of punitive measures. Hence, the restrictions were seen as a countermeasure.